Mad Caleb or "Vincie"

I made a new friend. Werewolf guy, John Junior. I decided to leave Robin alone now. Better that I branch out before she gets hurt. We decided to hang out after school. The werewolf attack had failed and Vincents mom was fine. I told him to keep me out of their war and he agreed. During class, I was sitting talking to John when Vincent heard about Deans friend getting set on fire. From Dean. Who reminded him of it. Now, Vincent had forgotten everything to do with those events, so he began getting a bit weird. I stepped in, trying to cut off Dean, telling Vincent he was a compulsive liar and he was better off ignoring him. When Vincent made eye contact with me....well, it was weird. Like a hand inside my brain, squeezing and tugging at it. He called me a liar and ran off with a nosebleed(which I didn't give him). I shivered and ran to find Chantelle.

Tobias found me first and gave me a big old silver coin. He said it was to replace the one that I had given up. It was very similar and so I thanked him for the gesture. I began telling Chantelle about it and she pulled me and Tobias into a closet. I explained what was happening with Vincent and she began blathering about me stealing something from from him. I was about to do as she said when Israel showed up with it. She began making a weird circle and I decided to remove myself. I thought she was a god or alien, not some wiccan.

Me and John Junior went to hang out and he told me about Boris, a mobster, and his daughter Sasha. Apparently she was drug dealing some dangerous stuff around the school. We began plotting a little warning(non violent, I've been trying to cut back on that) and planned to meet her before school.

I met her in the hallways early the next day. Sasha is very pretty, but she was also poisoning kids, so I tried to use the carrot instead of the ten inch wolf claw. I did my best James Dean pose and she was all over me. I lead her to the car and John sat up from the back seat, starting to tie her up. I heard "HEY!" and felt my blood chill. Maybe broad daylight wasn't the best idea, but I wanted this done fast.

Vincent was running towards us and I exited the car while John held Sasha there. He demanded to know what I was doing and I told him I wanted to explain, and, when he became belligerant, I gave him to the count of three(see? I am becoming more tame). I got as far as 1 before Vince sent me flying through the car doors. Both of them. With his mind. I sat up bleeding and wiped at my nose as Vincent told JJ to let Sasha go and he obliged. Sasha thanked him and he told her to run to the principal. I snarled to my feet and asked what the hell he had done and he called me a kidnapper, a freak and all sorts of cruel words. The rest of the group was around us and I felt my cheeks burn as he called me all these things while the others took his side. I couldn't even look at Robin, afraid of seeing disappointment in her eyes or hate or fear and pain. What I didn't expect was, as Vincents eyes began to get that "Carrie" look again, was her moving in between us, cocking back her fist and slamming it into Vincents face.Vincent reeled and called me a kidnapper and Israel led him away, speaking quietly to him. It was clear whose side he had chosen. Robin, meanwhile, turned to me and dabbed at my lip with a tissue, asking if I was hurt. I felt my heart pounding fast again.

Inside, the group(except Robin, who listened to me rather than judge first)demanded my explanation. I told them of Sasha working with Boris(who Robin had heard of), of possible sources helping me(I kept JJ's involvement a secret, at least for now. I'll tell Robin, but the others need to get the sticks out of their asses first). Chantelle made some dog insults(very clever, I see why you read the announcements honey)to me and Robin told Vincent off for attacking me(she hadn't let go of my hand yet). I told her about his psychic power and that he was dangerous again. Chantelle stated that she had it under control, which made me wonder about that magic she has. Is she able to control everyone? Even me? Whats to stop her from taking over that way?


Vincent stormed off and we went to class. Ardath was missing, but that was no loss. I wondered if Robin was starting to feel better. That she needed more than a friend. Then I told myself to shut the hell up and think. A text rang out. For all of us. "Guys. Help me." Vincent was in trouble. Robin rose. Chantelle rose. Israel rose. And, like it or not, I rose. And I began dialling the gang. If he was on the road, he'd need some bikers. Like me.

Secrets.

Chantelle gave Robin a gift and a curse. Vincents demon was removed and trapped in a cylinder, a genie in the bottle. Vincent wanted to forget and Chantelle did it. He didn't remember Robin, me, Chantelle, Israel, Robins mom. I wonder who it was crueler to. I think I know the answer.

Robins mom died last week. Robin stayed with me a few days. Its okay, I had the room and she needed someone around, but her empty stares sometimes made me unnerved. Robin went to the funeral without me. She needed the friends she had before I came in and made her life more complicated. In the school, she has been cool towards everyone. I avoided touching her, even to get her attention. Puppy love isn't something she needs, I can tell by her demeanour. Before the incidents with Vincent, I had begun to feel something with her. I'm a selfish piece of shit for wanting her now. When she asked me to help her, to train her to fight against something...like me, I did it. She's stronger than she looks. She's braver than she seems. And she's more loving than she acts. She told me not to hold back and I didn't.I bruised ribs, stung her arms and at least once cracked a bone, but she didn't call halt then. She didn't tell me stop or glare at me with hate. She only had determination in her eyes. Determination and something else. We talk about Jack, her brother, the ghost. She smiles at times when I talk about him, but its a sad smile. I listen to her story(what she chooses to tell)and give my support. I feel like she gives me little gestures that mean something special, like a touch to the arm or a little cock of the head. Once she touched my hair. Am I deluding myself? Probably. Everyone deludes themselves. Vincent deluded himself believing he will forget everything forever. Ardath deluded himself of his supposed greatness. Chantelle deludes herself thinking she can keep control of a school as fucked up as this. Israel deludes himself thinking he will be human. Robin deludes herself thinking that being alone will make her stronger. And I delude myself thinking Robin will ever care about me. But there is something else happening. Its been bothering me, like a mosquito around my ear.

Robins mother was stable. Comatose, but stable. She died with Robin in the room. Robin said she went to the bathroom and came back and the nurses were trying to stabilize her again. But the nurses told me that she rang the bell to call them in. And no matter what, I can smell something on Robin. Apprehension. Fear. Guilt. If I'm right, then she has secrets. But everyone does. I'll die a million times over before I reveal hers.

He didn't even buy me dinner or "Eye for an eye".

One of the worst things in the world is group assignments. You know that? We are saddled with a bunch of robotic babies to take care of, look after and act like parents. I'm not sure I'm ready to be a parent(though I'd probably be a poppa wolf if I was). I'm looking for Robin(who chooses pretty boy Ardath)when the teacher puts me together with Vincent. Vincent, who I hate. Vincent, who emotionally brutalized Robin. Vincent, who stabbed Robins mother half to death and she is still in critical condition. So I sit there, holding the baby and trying to keep the wolf at bay. Vincent doesn't say anything and I don't say anything as well. I think we came to an understanding of how things had to be.

At lunch, I met a guy. Big biker who said he was the one behind my enrolment here, who paid my bills so I could live in my fancy house. He said that it was about time I began paying him back. I asked how and he said that the werewolves(he's a werewolf, fyi) wanted to get rid of a dangerous vampire who just happens to be Vincents mom. I remembered Vincent, his eyes inhuman, standing over Robins mother with the knife, laughing away. She needs to die. He needed to suffer for it. Eye for an eye.

Later, I got guided to the church by the group. They were preparing for a ritual, something to rid Vincent of his demon forever. When I heard this, my heart stopped. A wonderful happily ever after, wouldn't it be? Robin and Vincent, the princess and prince of the story, happy and content, human. Meanwhile the wolf is chased away to live in the foothills, no longer part of the princesses life. No longer needed. No longer cared for. I've kept my feelings to myself. I was stupid to think she'd ever choose someone like me.

Halfway through the ritual, imps appear. Attacking and burning things, trying to disrupt it. Probably sent by Samael. I answer their attack with my boots, keeping the baby safe. Vincent was selfishly sitting in his magic circle, so he didn't give a shit.

During the ritual, Vincent begins contorting and twisting. Everyone gives a token to rid him of the demon. I saw Robin, tearful, terrified and her eyes full of care. Thats when I realized.

Robin doesn't want me and she doesn't need me. She loved Vincent and she deserves to be happy.

I pulled the silver coin from my pocket. It was heavy, as big as my palm and had a silver moon engraved on the side. I smiled softly. Silver and werewolves. They had it all wrong. I tossed it into the fire, my offering to whatever powers there were at work, praying for the first time ever, to give Robin peace, give her happiness, give her love that she deserved and free the boy she loved.

Goodbye dad.

In which a new friendship is made and trust is established.

As I arrived, Robin was exiting the hospital. She looked like she had been through a wringer and wanted nothing to do with me. I decided to say my piece and go. She didn't want me around and she didn't need me. I told her about her brother and what had happened. She stared at me, confused and upset. I gave a promise that if she asked, I would leave her alone for good. As my last question, I asked if she was okay. And I felt her pain in the one look she gave me, I could tell she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry. But she didn't. She's strong because she has to be. I couldn't imagine all this happening to her. But when she spoke to me next, she didn't say leave me alone. She asked me to come with her to check something out. And, after a moment, I agreed.

She drove the car down to a book shop. I didn't say a thing, not wanting to bother her. Poor Robin. I wish I could simply turn away, find someone else to follow around. I want her to be happy and i want her to be safe and protected, but I also want her to be strong. But who the hell am I to tell someone how to be? I just joined the group two days ago and the group seems to be almost disbanded. Israel arrested, Vincent in the hospital(and most likely arrested), Chantel in the fairy world, Robin distraught. I don't know where Ardath is....

Inside the shop, it smelled of old books and parchment. Thats the smell I love the best. Robin asked about books on supernatural creatures and the owner looked at me oddly, telling Robin I was a werewolf. She said she knew and he said that he would help her, but only if I would put on a pair of handcuffs. They were gold and I stepped back, the skin on my palms tingling from the last encounter I had with gold. Robin held up the cuffs as she approached me, her eyes wet, but also determined. I saw real strength there as she told me that if she wanted her to trust me, I'd put them on. I was going to tell her about the gold, how much it hurt, how it burned my skin like fire, but at our eye contact, I simply held out my hands and left her close the cuffs tightly on my wrists as I suffered in silence, my skin blackening at the metals touch. Robin thanked me though. I think that helped a bit.

The bookstore owner, Elliot, gave her a fancy book and told her to call him once a week to let him know she was alive. I worried a bit about that, but I kept quiet. Then Chantel and Israel walked in. The rest was a blur as Chantel was forgiven for something she did to Elliot sixteen years ago(which is, what,when she was a baby?!) I felt Robins anger burning beside me and I saw Tobias standing inside with us. Israel and Tobias were very high. Robin confronted Chantel about her leaving us behind in the Fae realms and she got me uncuffed and lead my by the hand out. I felt my heart beating very fast as I felt Robins own pulse from her wrist as we left the angel and the whatever behind. And soon I realized that her pulse was not for me, but for the book she held. Of course, I'm getting my strength back as the werewolf. I could have been sensing anything....but I wonder.

The Ghost and the Darkness.

The cop walked up, told Robin she was speeding. And Robin broke down, crying, saying that she was just a girl, whimpering and making a scene. The cop, apparently soft despite being a Toronto cop, said she was off the hook and offered to escort her to her house. She agreed, even though we were a block away. We got to the door and Robin ran inside, with me close behind. Vincent was standing over Robins mother, a knife in his hand. He smelled....wrong. Like meat gone bad thats been cooked and burnt black. His eyes weren't like Vincent and he had blood on the knife. I knew what I had to do. And it was going to hurt if I had anything to say about it.

I yelled at Vincent, shouting, trying to snap him out of it. "Think about Robin Vincent! Don't do this! She TRUSTED you! She TRUSTED you!" I shouted as he brandished the knife, about to plunge the blade into her abdomen again. So I ran at him. And was slammed aside. I hit the wall, pinned there by an unseen force as I struggled and fought, trying to stop him as he crept forward, as unVincentish as possible. Suddenly, the force abated and I tackled Vincent hard, roaring in rage, in hatred, at his cruelty, at the pain he was causing Robin, at the unfairness of the world that she had chosen him. He hit the ground hard and was knocked out. I held back, wanting nothing more than to finish him off while he was weak. But Robin was watching and she was tearfully kneeling by her mother as I shouted at the cops to get an ambulance.

Robin clambered into the ambulance with her mom and Vincent as I sadly watched her leave. She gave me an endearing smile as the doors closed, slamming shut and cutting off our eye contact. Lighting up a ciggarette, I realized I wasn't alone. The person with me didn't give off any smell, which is why he surprised me. He talked to me as I smoked and said thanks for saving my mom. I was surprised that he was Robins brother, but not too surprised he was dead. He said he was the one who tossed me aside and he was trying to protect his mother, so I forgave him for that. I asked if there was anything I could do to help and he said that he needed Robin to know about his existence. I promised I would and he disappeared(but I expect he'll be back). I didn't have anything else to do, so I decided to hike to the hospital. Robin needed to have someone around who wasn't psychotic.

In Which a Betrayal is Felt and a Friendship is Broken.

When I got back, Robin was finishing a story. Her eyes had a sad, haunted look in it and I had to fight the urge to go to her, to hold her hand. She's Vincents. She's not going to be mine. I had figured that out by now. I told her that I was sorry and I was sure Vincent would be here to help her soon. But for some reason, that didn't comfort her. If anything, it made her look sadder. She wouldn't even look at me. I guess I only hurt people. I'm no good at looking after them. Vincent should have been here. Where the hell was he?

The troll picked us up on his back and carried us when Chantel stated she wanted to face Leanne(which, I guess, is the fancily dressed fae woman) and we were taken to her presence. She was beautiful and frightening. Even my inner wolf was creeped out. Chantel said truth or dare to Leanne and Leanne asked about a book. I was confused when Chantel pulled one out. I didn't recognize it, but Robin did, because she gasped in horror and I HEARD her heartbeat pick up. I felt excitement, anger. Betrayal. Nostalgia. This book was Robins and Chantel had stolen it. I had to fight the urge to transform and tear Chantels book arm off. Leanne made an offer for our freedom. That Chantel sleep with her.

Robin screamed at Chantel, saying that it was a bad idea. How fucked up it was , I could tell that her heart was breaking, but I remained silent. If I was Vincent, I would have been able to convince Chantel. I would have been able to be there for Robin. But I'm not. Chantel and Leanne walked off together and the troll showed up. He offered to carry us back and we were free. I tried to give a word of comfort and kindness to Robin, but I don't think she heard me. The troll raised a gate and we entered. The troll was with us, back in Toronto(I could tell by the smell). The troll was a huge biker guy now. And Robin...I nearly teared up as she begged him to promise not to kill anyone. He agreed, but only if he was the one she called if she wanted someone dead. And she promised him that.

We went to grab Chantels keys. With her in Neverland, she sure as hell doesn't need them. Dean showed up and he looked fine, despite being the Human Torch the last time we saw him. He was talking to me, saying that Israel, Robin, Vincent, all of them...that they were weak, that I was strong and I didn't need them, that I should leave them behind. I told him the truth. They were freaks, monsters, oddballs....but they were the only friends I had. And good or bad times, I was sticking with them.

Robin and I got in the car as she called Vincent. She seemed scared and she was asking where he was. I tried to listen in using my senses, but I was cut off as a bunch of bikers encircled the car. Robin sped off fast, leaving them behind as we drove...I guess towards her house. The cops then showed up. What the hell were we going to do?

Everything's beautiful....in the green.

The most amazing forest I had ever seen. Beautiful. Huge. Old. I could feel it even if I had lost my wolfish senses. It was amazing and huge and I wanted to see every part. Robin was there and Chantel with us. I didn't know where Israel and Vincent were and I didn't care. I tried to offer Robin help up, but Robin shrugged me off. I guess I still unnerved her. I tried to ask her why she was treating me like a bad guy, I had apologized and I had lost part of myself. I showed her the scar across my stomach from getting cut in half and Robin got....flustered. She blushed anyway. I don't know what feelings she was having with my senses gone, but I felt she was coming over.

As we walked, I saw it. A bridge and down below, a pool of water. Over it, the moon, unbelievably, was reflected. The phases of the moon passed and went and I knew I had the power, to become my wolf form again. All I had to do was bathe in the waters. Wash away the dust. As I approached the river, something huge came up. It was big. It had skin like stone. It was a troll, no question. As his very manner threatened violence, I tried to use fairy tale logic, saying my brother, who was slightly bigger, would come soon if he let me by. But he was obviously well versed in the myth, as he laughed off my story. Robin tried to grab me, to convince me to stay human and there was definite warmth in her touch and worry in her eyes and I felt my stomach flip flop a little, but I also knew something else. That without the wolf, I wouldn't be worthy of anyones notice. So, though it killed me, I pulled myself from her grasp and faced the troll. He said he would let me pass if I became like him, merged with him, became a were troll. But I wasn't going to let him lay the rules down. So I ran to the pool and washed the dust away, bathing away the cursed fairy dust. And suddenly I smelled everything. I could smell the forest, the water, the air. And it was beautiful.